Washington Post-ABC News Poll

The Washington Post Updated Monday, July 30, 2007; 12:30 p.m.

This Washington Post-ABC News poll was conducted by telephone July 18-21, 2007, among a random national sample of 1,125 adults, including additional interviews with randomly selected African Americans, for a total of 210 black respondents. The results from the full survey have an error margin of plus or minus three percentage points. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by TNS of Horsham, Pa.

*= less than 0.5 percent

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president? Do you approve/disapprove strongly or somewhat?

8. All in all, considering the costs to the United States versus the benefits to the United States, do you think the war with Iraq was worth fighting, or not? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?

9. Do you think (the United States should keep its military forces in Iraq until civil order is restored there, even if that means continued U.S. military casualties); OR, do you think (the United States should withdraw its military forces from Iraq in order to avoid further U.S. military casualties, even if that means civil order is not restored there)?

10. As you may know Bush has sent approximately 28 thousand additional U.S. military forces to try to restore civil order in parts of Iraq. Do you think this increase in U.S. forces has made the situation in Iraq better, worse, or hasn't made much difference?

16. Please tell me if you support or oppose each of the following proposals.

7/21/07 - Summary Table

Support Oppose No opinion
a. Creating new rules on troop training
and rest time that would limit the
number of troops available for duty
in Iraq 65 31 5
b. Changing the primary mission of U.S.
forces in Iraq to supporting and
training the Iraqi Army, rather than
directly fighting insurgents 74 21 5
c. Reducing U.S. military and financial
support from the Iraqi government if
the Iraqis fail to make progress toward
national unity and restoring civil order 67 30 3
*Item a asked of all; b asked of half sample, c asked of other half.

Trend:

a. Creating new rules on troop training and rest time that would limit the number of troops available for duty in Iraq

18. How confident are you in the ability of the Iraqi government to meet its commitments in the effort to restore civil order in Iraq - very confident, somewhat confident, not so confident, or not confident at all?

24. Some people support the use of surveillance cameras in public places as a way to help solve crimes. Others say these cameras go too far as a government intrusion on personal privacy. What's your opinion - do you support or oppose the increased use of surveillance cameras in public places?

Support Oppose Depends (vol.) No opinion
7/21/07 71 25 5 *

25. If you honestly assessed yourself, thinking in general about (ITEM) president of the United States, is that something you'd be entirely comfortable with, somewhat comfortable, somewhat uncomfortable or entirely uncomfortable?

27. (ASKED OF LEANED DEMOCRATS) If the 2008 Democratic presidential primary or caucus in your state were being held today, and the candidates were: (Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Barack Obama, Al Gore, Bill Richardson, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, Dennis Kucinich, or Mike Gravel), for whom would you vote?

30. (ASKED OF LEANED DEMOCRATS) Overall, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the choice of candidates for the Democratic nomination for president this year - are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied?

36. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) Overall, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the choice of candidates for the Republican nomination for President this year - are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied?

39. If a candidate for president supports the Bush administration's policies in Iraq, would that make you more likely to (support) that candidate for president, more likely to (oppose) that candidate, or wouldn't it make much difference in your vote?

43. As you may know, the Supreme Court recently restricted how local school boards can use race to assign children to schools. Some argue (this is a significant setback for efforts to diversify public schools), others say (race should not be used in school assignments). On balance, do you approve or disapprove of this decision?

Approve Disapprove No opinion
7/21/07 40 56 4

44. The Supreme Court also recently upheld a federal restriction on the procedure known as partial birth abortion, banning the procedure except when a woman's life is at risk. Do you approve or disapprove of this decision?

Approve Disapprove No opinion
7/21/07 55 43 2

45. On another subject, do you feel the federal government is or is not doing enough to make sure of the safety of food, health care goods and other products imported from (ITEM)?

46. Would you support or oppose giving the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the power to regulate cigarettes, which could lead to greater restrictions on their tar and nicotine content and how they can be marketed and sold?

Support Oppose No opinion
7/21/07 66 32 2

47. How much do you use the Internet to get news or information about political candidates - a great deal, somewhat, not much or not at all?

48. Which of these comes closer to your own view: (Overall, the Internet plays more of a positive role in the election campaign because it provides easy and direct access to information about the candidates); OR (Overall, the Internet plays more of a negative role in the election campaign because so much information there is unchecked or unreliable).

49. Do you happen to have watched any of the recent debates between the candidates running for president, or not?

Yes No No opin.
7/21/07 All 27 73 *
Leaned Democrats 31 69 0

50. (ASKED IF NOT WATCHED DEBATES, Q49) Why not - is it mainly (because you're just not that interested), (because it's too early in the campaign), (because you've already decided who to support), or for some other reason?

Not that Too early in Already decided Other No
interested the campaign who to support reason opin.
7/21/07 9 47 7 37 *
49/50 NET
--------------Has not watched debates--------------
Not that Too Already Other No
Yes NET interested early decided reason op.
7/21/07 27 73 7 34 5 27 *

51. Do you think abortion should be legal in all cases, legal in most cases, illegal in most cases or illegal in all cases?